Ministering 'out-of-the-box'

Flint Hill Baptist Church near Boiling Springs has had four pastors and two interims since 1989, but one music and children’s minister.

Jackie Bridges

Flint Hill Baptist Church near Boiling Springs has had four pastors and two interims since 1989, but one music and children’s minister.

Doreen Wacaster, hired 24 years ago as youth and music minister, did have one title change, though. Soon after she came to the church, the choir and the youth group started to grow. The youth needed a person dedicated to them, so Wacaster became minister of music and children.

“Children’s ministry is always fresh and challenging,” Wacaster said. “And music ministry is as well if you continue to grow and learn and serve. I’ve seen generations come up through the children’s ministry and music ministry.”

Wacaster, who sometimes drives a motorcycle to church, is known for her creative approach.

“One of the reasons our music ministry is successful is because our ministry is out of the box,” she said. “I’m thinking of creative ways to worship. I go to conferences to keep up with what is new and what fits our situation.”

When Wacaster talks about out-of-the-box ideas, she’s not only referring to doing things a little differently, but also to going outside of the church walls to perform.

The Flint Hill Choir has presented a patriotic musical at the Cleveland County Fair, and auditions and performs each year at the Biltmore Estate Candlelight Tour. The choir has also performed at Don Gibson Theatre, Malcolm Brown Auditorium, Gardner-Webb’s Dover Theatre, Wilmington School of Theology graduation and area churches.

Wacaster took the Children’s Choir to perform at Ingles in Boiling Springs. She also organized a children’s choir and conducted rehearsals for a children’s musical by Word Music Co. The musical premiered at a choral festival. Each summer, she plans a children’s day camp for 70 children and also hosts Wacky Wonderful Wednesday programs.

Pastor Shane Kirby, who came to Flint Hill almost three years ago, said Wacaster has a servant’s heart.

“What she does, she does for service to the Lord,” he said. “She is a joy to work with in ministry. Her being able to think out-of-the-box not only helps people worship in different ways, but helps people be involved in different ways.”

An example, he said, is the Expressions Ministry, which allows people who can’t sing to use sign language and other expressions of worship. Wacaster also helped the youth form a handbell choir, he said.

Before coming to Flint Hill, Wacaster sang in Carnegie Hall and traveled as a soloist on a European choir tour. She starred in opera productions and produced a record. Her first job as a music minister was a part-time position at a small church, and she drove 20 miles one way to get there.

“It was during that time that I sensed that stability and dependability was crucial to ministry,” she said. “In 1988, I had just experienced the brutal murder of a family member and the arson of my family home. In January 1989, I took the job of music and youth director of Flint Hill. Flint Hill helped me through the trial and the uncertainty of that time. People were very caring.”

She continues to travel and perform, because that is also ministry, she said. For more than 18 years, she has sung with a ladies trio, Mercy’s Touch. She led a women’s conference in South Africa, and was a soloist on Carnival Cruise Line Gospel Cruise for two years. She traveled as a soloist with Encouragement Jubilees and sang with Squire Parsons, The Anchormen, Dr. J.L. Cook and Lulu Roman from the TV show, “Hee Haw.”

“When I first took the job (at Flint Hill), I thought it wasn’t a permanent thing,” Wacaster said. “Then I realized that it is harder to stay in one place and minister. It’s more challenging. Stability and character earn people’s trust and together you grow in the Lord.”